Increase physical activity to lower chronic disease risk

A team of researchers have claimed that people decreasing their sitting time and increasing their physical activity have a lower risk of chronic disease.

The researchers - Sara Rosenkranz and Richard Rosenkranz, both assistant professors of human nutrition from Kansas State University - studied a sample of 194,545 men and women ages 45 to 106.

The data was from the 45 and Up Study, which is a large Australian study of health and aging.

Richard said that not only do people need to be more physically active by walking or doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, but they should also be looking at ways to reduce their sitting time.

The twofold approach -- sitting less and moving more -- is key to improving health, the researchers said.

People often spend the majority of the day being sedentary and might devote 30 to 60 minutes a day to exercise or physical activity, Sara said. Taking breaks to stand up or move around can make a difference during long periods of sitting.

Sitting for prolonged periods of time -- with little muscular contraction occurring -- shuts off a molecule called lipoprotein lipase, or LPL, Sara said. Lipoprotein lipase helps to take in fat or triglycerides and use it for energy.

For the study, the researchers wanted to take a positive approach and see if increasing physical activity helped to increase health and quality of life. The researchers want to motivate people -- especially younger people -- to sit less and move more so they can age easier with less chronic disease.